Last night 11 Alive News aired a report on the fees paid to the Newton County Attorney, Tommy Craig. Many questions were raised by the reporter as well as citizens who were interviewed. Many have questioned why the Board agreed to reappoint Mr. Craig as County Attorney. Prior to the vote, I made the following statement which was made part of the official minutes of the meeting.

It's a relatively calm morning at the Newton County 911 center. Nate Stykes is giving instructions to a mother whose child is having a seizure. A few feet away, Love Frazier assures an elderly individual with chest pains that an ambulance is on the way.

The 11Alive report from "The Investigators" on Newton County Attorney Tommy Craig, and the pay he received in 2014, brought a lot of attention to the Board of Commissioners this week, a lot of which was negative from the talk around the county and social media responses.

Some local residents expressed anger at County Attorney Tommy Craig and the Board of Commissioners Friday following a Channel 11 news report on Craig's longstanding tax problems and his $1.1 million income from the county last year. Watch it here.

More than 100 county officials from across the state recently were recognized by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) for completion of the Commissioners Training Program, including local county commissioners Nancy L. Schulz and Earnest Simmons.

Outstanding Rotarian: Mike Lassiter, member of the Rotary Club of Covington, received the Rotary Foundation District Service Award at the Rotary District 6910 Conference held at Jekyll Island in April. The award is presented annually to a Rotarian providing outstanding service in promoting the Rotary Foundation. The most significant project of the Foundation has been the eradication of Polio throughout the world. Mike has served as Foundation Chair of the Covington Club for 10 years. Covington has been one of the top Foundation Fund raisers in District 6910 with over 55 Paul Harris Fellows awarded in the past two years ...

Fore! The Charter Charity Classic, was held at the Oaks on Wednesday and raised between $18,000 and $20,000 for the Miracle League in Newton County. The first place team was National Bank Products, with team members Brandon Slade, Stan Gann, Gordon Slade and Shaw Blackmon. Charter took second place, team members were Terrance Lewis, Rusty Lehman, Philip Lehman and Patrick Harrell. Conyers Flower Shop placed third, team members were Scot Ward, Alan Sherrill, Chuck Groover and Paul Dailey.

Melbert Ray Ford Jr. took his last breath on June 9 at 7:27 p.m., more than 24 years after the last breaths of those he murdered. He ate most of his last meal and declined a sedative as well as a prayer request from the prison chaplin at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson. His last words were not ones of remorse for his crimes but thanks to his family, friends and loved ones.

Project Adventure Kids, a non-profit organization focusing on the rehabilitation of at-risk children and teen-aged drug abusers and sex offenders, is closing down its 16 area group homes and treatment facility on Elks Club Road.

During the evening commute an accident with injuries 1 mile east of exit 90 on I-20 stalled traffic so that another accident occurred when a female driver slammed on her brakes and cut her wheel causing her to flip and strike another vehicle. According to Newton County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Anthony Washington, a passenger in the female driver's car was transported to Atlanta Medical Center by ground ambulance.

Officers from the Covington Police Department were called to a home on Hannah Street Saturday afternoon after a 911 came in where a woman could be heard screaming in the background.

Dispatch operators reportedly heard a woman screaming, "I am not going with you," and, "I don't know where I am." The operator also allegedly told officers she heard a male voice yelling, "jump out of the car."